Pazaak
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Pazaak is a game played in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords.
A two-person game similar to Blackjack, its object is to total as close as possible to twenty in a round without exceeding a total of twenty. To win a game of Pazaak, a player must be the first to win three rounds.
A Pazaak player brings to the game his own side-deck, a collection of twenty cards labeled positive, negative, or +/- values between 1 and 6. There also exist specialised gold cards that can reverse the numerical value of cards already on the field (e.g. set the value of all 2 or 4 cards to -2 and -4 respectively, or for 3 and 6), double the previous card's amount and a +/-1 tiebreaker card that allows you to win in the event of a tie. These cards may be found on quests in the games, bought, or (rarely) won in a game of Pazaak.
In the game, the player randomly draws four cards from his side-deck, which will be his hand for the entire game. Cards are then dealt from the main deck, which are numbered 1 to 10 (all positive). The player may pass (to get another card on the next turn, similar to a hit in Blackjack), stand (accept the total), or play a card from his hand, and then pass or stand. One hand must suffice for the entire game--once a hand card is played, it is gone. The player closer to twenty wins the round (ties do not count).
For example, Person A plays Person B. A is dealt a 10 card, so he passes, being well below 20. B is dealt 5, and also passes. A is dealt a 5, bringing his total to 15. A happens to have a +4 card in his hand, and plays it, bringing his total to 19. He then stands. B must now bring his total 19, to tie the round, or 20, to win, by passing or playing hand cards. If one of the players manage to be dealt/play nine cards and still be under twenty, that player wins by default.
Note: if a player has negative or +/- cards, he may play them if he "busts", or totals more than twenty, to bring his total equal to or under twenty. If he cannot bring his total to or under twenty, he automatically loses the round.
Pazaak is introduced to you in the first of the two games at either of the Taris cantinas.
In Knights of the Old Republic II, playing Pazaak in your mind (as well as other techniques) can help distract Force users from accessing your thoughts/intentions.
"Pazaak" is also the title of track 14 on the KOTOR game soundtrack. It is heard inside cantinas where the game is most often played.
[edit] External links
- Pazaak : The game created width "The ames Factory" by BMWX
- Pure Pazaak: a popular fan-made standalone multiplayer clone of Pazaak
